Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17
SUCCESS INSPIRATION.
The Thoughts Which Should Inspire
Christian Soldiers in Their Long March
for Victory.

Tns thoughts Whtch ShOuiO inspire
Christian Soldiers in Their Long March
for Victory.
Achievement on the field of Christian
warfare or labor is often delayed. and
those who long to be successful as
Christ's soldiers or workers must some
times wearily wait for the tardy hour of
triumph over hindrances. Much that is
attempted is slowly accomplished. and
''hope deferred maketh the heart sick" :"
Almost every movement, however well
planned and faithfully executed. may
be apparently unsuccessful. or. at least.
less successful than is seemingly desir-
able; and the occupation of advanced
positions. and the attainment of desir-
able ends. may seem more and
more difficult, not to say
impossible; and thus through
disappointment there may be discour-
agement Could the shouts of victory
be heard. and the gladness of success be
experienced, the servants OF Christ
would be checred in conflict and toll.
and. nerving themselves anew, their
fainting strength would be revived.
and they would press on to greater
triumphs and achievements; but, with
50 little to show that their endeavors
are ayailing. they are liable to be dis
hearteneI and disabled. True. they
should have stronger reliance on the
promises of God. and hold on their
way in faith and hope. remembering
that duty is theirs and results are
Gods. Yet, instead OF thus oyercom-
ing. too many are overcome. yielding
to that which they should resist.
The want of success as cause of
fa;nting often arises from some neg
lee: on the part of Christians to obey
the word of command which has been
given them by their Leader. Gideon's
followers. in order to succeed in con-
quering the Midianites. must break
their pitchers and sound their trum-
pets. So the followers of Christ must
let their light shine, and give the Cos
Neither should they be afraid of being
seen themselves. or of exposing the
enemy to view. The light of truth
must be brought to bear upon that
which is evil, and those who are afraid
to break their pitchers lest their light
should prove offensive to the encoun-
tered foe. or lest they expose them
selves to reproach. will never be
gladdened with such results as are
most To be desired Success can not
be enjoyed in the service Of Christ un-
less His followers are both seen and
heard as such. COncealment of their
light is but little better than having no
light. There is great deal of pitcher
breaking to be done by those vino are
unknown, or but lille known, as
Christians. The Gospel must be pro-
claimed and exemplitied in order to
secure its greatest triumphs. There is
still occasion for saying. with DR..
Watts. in his familiar words:
So let our lips and lives express
The holy Gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine
To prove the doctrine all Divine.
1t must not be forgotten. by those
who would successfully follow Christ,
that they are 10 ''shine as lights in the
world" and "speak the things which
become sound doctrine" in order to
which there must be pitcher-break-
ing and trumpet blowing. or. in other
words, doing their duty as Christians.
Otherwise. there will be the fainting
which comes from want Of success.
Such fainting is needless, and might
be avoided.
All fainting. however. is not of this |
kind. The tolls and privations OF the !
Christian calling may cause the faith |
full to faint while striving for success.
Those who. regardless of all difficulties,
cease not from continuance, even
though fainting. are worthy of
all honor as Christian heroes.
Such unfailing ones there are. who
do their duty regardless of all
discouragements. working all the
same, with or without such success as